I've just finished a week in the new Lincoln MKS and I'm stunned. It is a fitting flagship for the brand. It has sophisticated, efficient V-6 power, a richly trimmed interior and an option for all-wheel drive. Pricing begins at $40,000.

The MKS is a large, five-pas-senger sedan, with front-or allwheel drive. It is thoroughly contemporary and notable for not offering a V-8 engine. Instead it has a very capable 273-horse-power, 3.7-liter V-6 engine and new six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

Lincoln appears to be headed back as a purveyor of emotional styling with a full measure of wood, leather and chrome. What it has is richness of style, inside and out.

The leather, by Bridge of Weir, the Scottish company that tanned hides for the Continental Mark II, is the softest and most organically treated leather ever used in a Lincoln. It wraps seats that are well-stuffed to massage, support and tenderize the backside. The front seats, heated and cooled, have 12-way power adjustment, including lumbar.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FORD MOTOR CO Lincoln MKS is a fitting flagship for the brand. It has sophisticated, efficient V-6 power, a richly trimmed interior and an option for all-wheel drive. Pricing begins at $40,000.

The leather-covered dash is double-stitched and looks exoti-heated. the MKS, betting that consumers cally expensive. The light-col-Nothing says luxury like a qui-would place more value on fuel ored headliner with optional et ride and the MKS feels so sol-economy than the number of dual-panel sunroof creates an id and soundproofed that even cylinders. After all, power in this open, flow-through environ-cars passing on the interstate segment is more about how fast ment. Ebony wood trim, used for seem far away. the car gets to 60 mph than how some models, is reclaimed from Large four-wheel disc brakes many cylinders it has. furniture makers and other give forceful, refined stopping sources. power. Braking is integrated with Mark Maynard is driving in

Lincoln says the rear doors ABS, traction and electronic sta-cyberspace at mark.maynard have the largest opening of other bility controls. @uniontrib.com. cars in this class. The back seats, Lincoln/Ford took a stand just as full as the front seats, are when it planned a V-6 engine for

2009 LINCOLN MKS AWD

Body style: large, five-passenger, front-or all-wheel-drive sedan
Engine: aluminum, DOHC, 3.7-liter V6 with four valves per cylinder and intake variable, camshaft timing
Horsepower: 273 at 6,250 rpm (275 with 91 octane fuel)
EPA fuel economy estimates: 16 mpg city, 23 highway (17/24 frontwheel drive)

FEATURES Standard equipment includes:

dual-zone automatic temperature control, reverse sensing system, SecuriCode keypad, one-touch up and down power front windows, fog lights, Easy Fuel capless fuel-filler system, high-intensity-discharge headlights, power mirrors, six-speak-er audio system with six months of Sirius satellite radio, overhead console with lights and storage for sunglasses, front and rear floor mats, lighted door and steering-wheel switches

Safety features include: dual-stage front air bags, safety canopy system, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and traction and elec-tronic-stability controls

PRICING Base: $40,355, including $800 freight charge; price as tested, $46,070